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{{Use American English|date=June 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}{{Infobox convention center
| name = Savannah Civic Center
| logo = Savannah Civic Center Logo.png
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| map_caption =
| map_size =
| address = 301 WWest [[Oglethorpe AveAvenue]]<br>[[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah, GA]], 31401-3643
| location = [[Savannah Historic District (Savannah, Georgia)|Savannah Historic District]]
| coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|}} -->
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The '''Savannah Civic Center''' is a multi-purpose facility located in [[Savannah, Georgia]], in [[Savannah Historic District (Savannah, Georgia)|Savannah Historic District]]. Built-in 1974, the facility consists of an arena, theatre, ballroom, and exhibit halls. Throughout the years, the center hosts various concerts, conventions, exhibits, high school and college graduations, trade shows, theatre, ballet, and comedy shows. The venue offers event planning, a national A/V company, and production management. The center has held concerts by many famous artists from around the world.
[[File:Lewis civic center maddox.jpg|thumb|[[List of mayors of Savannah, Georgia|Savannah Mayor]] [[Julius Curtis Lewis Jr.]] (left) and [[Georgia Governor]] [[Lester Maddox]] at the civic center's [[groundbreaking]] in 1970]]
 
Each year, the civic center hosts nearly 900 events including the Savannah Tire Hockey Classic, which awards the "Thrasher Cup" and numerous meetings are held in the building's meeting wings. It was the home to the [[Savannah College of Art and Design|Savannah Bees]] [[basketball]] team, the [[Continental Basketball Association]]'s [[Savannah Spirits]] [[basketball]] team, and the [[Savannah Rug Ratz]] soccer team of the [[Eastern Indoor Soccer League|EISL]]. The arena between the years of 1986-87 was the host of the [[Big South Conference]]'s men's basketball tournament.
 
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{{Main article|Enmarket Arena}}
 
In 2017, the Citycity Councilcouncil voted to build a new area, west of downtown.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wtoc.com/2019/05/09/council-votes-authorize-million-bonds-go-toward-over-budgeted-arena-project/ |title=Council votes to authorize $45 million in bonds to go toward over-budgeted arena project |last1=Evans |first1=Sean |last2= |first2= |date=May 9, 2019 |website=[[WTOC-TV|WTOC]] |publisher=[[Gray Television]] |access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/tTPto20210404230025/https://www.wtoc.com/2019/05/09/council-votes-authorize-million-bonds-go-toward-over-budgeted-arena-project/ |archive-date=April 4, 2021}}</ref> The aging MLK Jr Arena proved to be too small to attract bigger acts and the repairs needed to bring the facility up to code were too costly.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsav.com/news/local-news/savannah-city-council-votes-to-demolish-civic-center/ |title=Savannah City Council votes to demolish Civic Center |last1=Staunton |first1=Martin |last2= |first2= |date=June 7, 2019 |website=[[WSAV-TV]] |publisher=[[Nexstar Media Group]] |access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/xtmVj20210404220721/https://www.wsav.com/news/local-news/savannah-city-council-votes-to-demolish-civic-center/ |archive-date=April 4, 2021}}</ref> Initial plans saw the removal of the arena solely. In June 2019, the council voted to demolish the entire civic center to create more green space in accordance with "The Oglethorpe Plan." Destruction of the center and renovation of the lot will take at least four years, based on the timeline recommended by the Urban Land Atlanta Institute.<ref name="savvemercer">{{cite web |url=https://www.wtoc.com/2019/06/18/savannah-man-making-efforts-save-mercer/ |title=Savannah man making efforts to 'Save the Mercer' |last1=Griner |first1=Ken |last2= |first2= |date=June 18, 2019 |website=WTOC |publisher=Gray Television |access-date=June 19, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/e9oql20210405004955/https://www.wtoc.com/2019/06/18/savannah-man-making-efforts-save-mercer/ |archive-date=April 45, 2021}}</ref> A campaign to "Save the Mercer" theater inside the Civic Center has been initiated by a longtime Savannah resident, Paul Mazo. Mazo told a local TV station that city officials indicated a preservation campaign will "open the door to some [needed] community discussion."<ref name="savvemercer"/>
 
The new arena, originally known as Savannah Arena and subsequently renamed [[Enmarket Arena]] after securing a [[naming rights]] agreement in July 2021,<ref name=wjcl>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wjcl.com/article/savannah-arena-enmarket-arena-savannah-s-new-9-500-seat-arena-officially-gets-a-name/37082259|title = 'A premier destination': Savannah's new 9,500-seat arena officially gets a name|date = 20 July 2021}}</ref> plans to openopened in the first half of 2022. The estimated cost of the project is $165 million. Perkins + Will have been named the firm in charge of designing the arena,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fox28media.com/news/local/city-of-savannah-city-council-approves-design-firm-for-new-arena |title=City of Savannah City Council approves design firm for new arena |last1=Rivas |first1=Briana |last2= |first2= |date=June 21, 2018 |website=[[WTGS]] |publisher=[[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] |access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/hEQWk20210404230838/https://fox28media.com/news/local/city-of-savannah-city-council-approves-design-firm-for-new-arena |archive-date=April 4, 2021}}</ref> while AECOM Hunt is in charge of construction.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/news/20180913/savannah-moves-forward-with-112-million-arena-contract |title=Savannah moves forward with $11.2 million arena contract |last1=Curl |first1=Eric |last2= |first2= |date=September 13, 2018 |website=[[Savannah Morning News]] |publisher=[[Gannett|Gannett Company]] |access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/JOIe320210404231243/https://www.savannahnow.com/news/20180913/savannah-moves-forward-with-112-million-arena-contract |archive-date=April 4, 2021}}</ref> City Council has stated there are no plans to demolish the Civic Center until three to five years after the new arena is built.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wjcl.com/article/savannah-arena-center-project-moves-ahead-while-civic-center-one-step-closer-to-closing/28582129 |title=Savannah arena center project moves ahead while Civic Center one step closer to closing |last1=Johnson |first1=Sharon |last2= |first2= |date=August 1, 2019 |website=[[WJCL (TV)|WJCL]] |publisher=[[Hearst Television]] |access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/jWbHx20210404225153/https://www.wjcl.com/article/savannah-arena-center-project-moves-ahead-while-civic-center-one-step-closer-to-closing/28582129 |archive-date=April 4, 2021}}</ref>▼
 
In June 2024, the Savannah city council voted 7–1 in favor of demolishing the MLK Jr Arena and renovating the Johnny Mercer Theatre, ballroom and community meeting spaces at an estimated net cost of $90 to $120 million.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Snyder |first1=Flynn |title=Savannah City Council votes to demolish MLK Jr. arena, renovate Johnny Mercer theater at Civic Center |url=https://www.wtoc.com/2024/06/27/savannah-city-council-make-decision-future-civic-center/ |access-date=June 30, 2024 |work=[[WTOC-TV]] |date=June 27, 2024}}</ref>
▲The new arena, originally known as Savannah Arena and subsequently renamed [[Enmarket Arena]] after securing a [[naming rights]] agreement in July 2021,<ref name=wjcl>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wjcl.com/article/savannah-arena-enmarket-arena-savannah-s-new-9-500-seat-arena-officially-gets-a-name/37082259|title = 'A premier destination': Savannah's new 9,500-seat arena officially gets a name|date = 20 July 2021}}</ref> plans to open in the first half of 2022. The estimated cost of the project is $165 million. Perkins + Will have been named the firm in charge of designing the arena,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fox28media.com/news/local/city-of-savannah-city-council-approves-design-firm-for-new-arena |title=City of Savannah City Council approves design firm for new arena |last1=Rivas |first1=Briana |last2= |first2= |date=June 21, 2018 |website=[[WTGS]] |publisher=[[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] |access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/hEQWk |archive-date=April 4, 2021}}</ref> while AECOM Hunt is in charge of construction.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/news/20180913/savannah-moves-forward-with-112-million-arena-contract |title=Savannah moves forward with $11.2 million arena contract |last1=Curl |first1=Eric |last2= |first2= |date=September 13, 2018 |website=[[Savannah Morning News]] |publisher=[[Gannett|Gannett Company]] |access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/JOIe3 |archive-date=April 4, 2021}}</ref> City Council has stated there are no plans to demolish the Civic Center until three to five years after the new arena is built.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wjcl.com/article/savannah-arena-center-project-moves-ahead-while-civic-center-one-step-closer-to-closing/28582129 |title=Savannah arena center project moves ahead while Civic Center one step closer to closing |last1=Johnson |first1=Sharon |last2= |first2= |date=August 1, 2019 |website=[[WJCL (TV)|WJCL]] |publisher=[[Hearst Television]] |access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/jWbHx |archive-date=April 4, 2021}}</ref>
 
==Facilities==
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==Noted performers==
Several noted musicians have performed at the venue, including:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/photogallery/GA/20120408/PHOTOGALLERY/304089756/PH/1 |title=Famous Musicians in Savannah 1975-present |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=April 8, 2012 |website=Savannah Morning News |publisher=Gannett Company |access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/hnxNd20210404235522/https://www.savannahnow.com/photogallery/GA/20120408/PHOTOGALLERY/304089756/PH/1 |archive-date=April 4, 2021}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Aerosmith]]
*[[Alice Cooper]]
*[[Alabama (band)|Alabama]]
*[[The Allman Brothers Band]]
*[[The B-52's]]
*[[Taylor Swift]]
*[[Barry Manilow]]
*[[Beastie Boys]]
*[[The Black Crowes]]
*[[Bobby Brown]]
*[[Bob Dylan]]
*[[Boyz II Men]]
*[[Brad Paisley]]
*[[Blues Traveler]]
*[[Carrie Underwood]]
*[[Chicago (band)|Chicago]]
*[[Default (band)|Default]]
*[[Def Leppard]]
*[[Dionne Warwick]]
*[[Elton John]]
*[[Elvis Presley]]
*[[Filter (band)|Filter]]
*[[The Jackson 5]]
*[[Jimmy Buffett]] and the [[Coral Reefer Band]]
*[[John Mellencamp|John Cougar Mellencamp]]
*[[JonnyJourney Lang(band)|Journey]]
*[[Kid Rock]]
*[[Kiss (band)|Kiss]]
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*[[Merle Haggard]]
*[[Miranda Lambert]]
*[[Nickelback]]
*[[Pete Yorn]]
*[[Puddle of Mudd]]
*[[R.E.M.]]
*[[Ray Charles]]
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*[[REO Speedwagon]]
*[[Rick James]]
*[[Rob Zombie]]
*[[Run-DMC]]
*[[Saliva (band)|Saliva]]
*[[Styx (band)|Styx]]
*[[Van Halen]]
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*[[ZZ Top]]
{{div col end}}
 
== See also ==
 
* [[Bulloch–Habersham House]], one of the buildings demolished to make way for the original civic center
 
==References==
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[[Category:Indoor soccer venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Theatres in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Arena football venues]]
[[Category:Continental Basketball Association venues]]
[[Category:Indoor arenas in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Music venues in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
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[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1974]]
[[Category:Theatres completed in 1974]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Savannah, Georgia]]
 
 
{{GeorgiaUS-stadium-stub}}
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